DATE=5/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232845
TITLE=INDIA / NUCLEAR (L)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE GAVE HIS
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION TO PARLIAMENT WEDNESDAY AS TO WHY HIS
GOVERNMENT DETONATED FIVE NUCLEAR DEVICES TWO WEEKS AGO.
V-O-A'S JIM TEEPLE REPORTS FROM THE INDIAN CAPITAL.
TEXT: ADDRESSING LAWMAKERS IN NEW DELHI, MR. VAJPAYEE SAID THE
NUCLEAR TESTS WERE A NECESSARY RESPONSE TO A GROWING SECURITY
THREAT IN THE INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT.
AT THE SAME TIME, MR. VAJPAYEE SAID INDIA IS COMMITTED TO A "NO
FIRST USE" POLICY ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS, WITH PAKISTAN AS WELL AS
OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION. THE PRIME MINISTER TOLD
PARLIAMENT INDIA'S NUCLEAR CAPABILITY IS STRICTLY DEFENSIVE IN
NATURE, AND THE TESTS DO NOT MEAN INDIA PLANS TO ENGAGE IN A
FUTURE ARMS RACE WITH ANYONE.
/// OPT VAJPAYEE ACT (QUALITY MARGINAL) ///
THESE ARE WEAPONS OF SELF-DEFENSE TO ENSURE INDIA IS NOT
SUBJECTED TO THREAT OR COERCION.
/// END ACT /// /// END OPT ///
THE TESTS SPARKED AN INTERNATIONAL OUTCRY AND THE IMPOSITION OF
SANCTIONS BY THE UNITED STATES, BUT MOST INDIANS STRONGLY
SUPPORTED THE TESTS AND CONTINUE TO DO SO.
SHOPPING AT NEW DELHI'S KHAN MARKET, JYODI DHANDA SAYS SHE STILL
BELIEVES THE TESTS BROUGHT INDIANS TOGETHER.
/// DHANDA ACT ///
I THINK IT DOES CAUSE PEOPLE TO RALLY AROUND PATRIOTISM.
IT'S A FEELING THAT, WELL, WE'VE DONE IT ON OUR OWN, AND
I THINK GENERALLY PEOPLE CONTINUE TO FEEL QUITE GOOD
ABOUT IT EVEN NOW.
/// END ACT ///
OTHER INDIANS ARE NOT SO SURE. EATING HIS LUNCH IN 46-DEGREE
HEAT IN NEW DELHI, R-K BHATIA SAYS INDIA'S GOVERNMENT SHOULD
CONCENTRATE LESS ON EXPLODING NUCLEAR DEVICES AND MORE ON
PROVIDING BASIC SERVICES.
/// BHATIA ACT ///
I FEEL VERY HOT, VERY HOT. I DON'T WANT A BOMB, I WANT
ELECTRICITY. I WANT ELECTRICITY AND WATER, THOSE ARE
THE MAIN PROBLEMS IN INDIA NOW. I DO NOT WANT A BOMB.
/// END ACT ///
INDIA IS SUFFERING THROUGH A RECORD HEAT WAVE WHICH HAS ALREADY
CLAIMED NEARLY 200 LIVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. FREQUENT POWER
OUTAGES AND A SHORTAGE OF WATER HAVE LED TO DISTURBANCES IN THE
CAPITAL. EARLIER THIS WEEK, INDIAN NEWSPAPERS REPORT, AN OFFICE
OF THE RULING HINDU NATIONALIST (BHARATIYA JANATA) PARTY WAS
ATTACKED BY PROTESTERS WHO SAID THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT DOING
ENOUGH TO PROVIDE BASIC SERVICES SUCH AS POWER AND WATER.
INTERNATIONAL DONORS ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE OF MUCH ASSISTANCE,
AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TERM. THIS WEEK THE WORLD BANK ANNOUNCED
IT IS INDEFINITELY POSTPONING APPROVAL OF AN 800-MILLION-DOLLAR
LOAN TO INDIA -- BECAUSE OF THE NUCLEAR TESTS. NEARLY HALF OF
THE MONEY WAS TO BE USED TO UPGRADE INDIA'S POWER GRID.
/// REST OPT ///
THE WORLD BANK'S ACTION -- AND THE INTERNATIONAL RATINGS AGENCY
STANDARD AND POOR'S MOVE TO DOWNGRADE INDIA'S SOVEREIGN BOND
RATING, FROM STABLE TO NEGATIVE -- HAS CAUSED A SHARP DROP IN
VALUE IN THE INDIAN CURRENCY. (SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/WTW
27-May-98 7:41 AM EDT (1141 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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